Minnesota legislators approve amendment in sports betting bill banning live wagering
Prohibition on popular bet type could be “poison pill” to North Star State’s sports betting ambitions according to one
The hopes for regulated sports betting in Minnesota were dealt a blow this week after a Senate Committee approved an amendment banning live wagering.
After advancing through multiple committees in 2023, SF1949 met resistance in the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.
Senator Jordan Rasmusson proposed a multipronged amendment to the bill aimed at creating checks against potential problem gambling, the most unconventional element being a complete prohibition on in-play betting.
The amendment – which also included other responsible gambling-focused initiatives such as creating a help hotline, funding problem gambling studies, and instituting a framework for user-initiated loss limits – was supported by the sponsor of the bill, Senator Matt Klein, and approved despite a warning of caution from Sports Betting Alliance president Jeremy Kudon.
In testimony to the committee, Kudon noted how live wagering already represents a significant portion of the US sports betting market and is projected to grow to as high as 75% of total handle by 2030.
The absence of in-play wagering could be a deterrent to prospective operators and other key industry stakeholders.
Representative Pat Garofalo went a step further, implying the prohibition would be a de facto death blow to Minnesota’s sports betting ambitions.
Garofalo wrote in a tweet: “The Minnesota Senate change to sports gambling bill to eliminate in-game wagering is unworkable.
“No state in the country has that type of ban. If sports gambling is going to happen this session, this poison pill will need to be removed.”
The framework outlined by SF1949 would make Minnesota’s 11 tribes the license holders for both retail and online sports betting, with revenue taxed at 10%.
Another proposed amendment to ban betting on college sports was rejected by the committee. The bill is now headed to the Senate Taxes Committee.
Minnesota’s current legislative session ends May 20.